Table of contents for 28 December 2023 in Chat

We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine…

Michelle Leaker, 42, Leicester Stepping into the hospital room, I already knew the routine. Top off step into the machine, wait for the beep, done. It was March 2022, I was 41, and having my annual mammogram. I'd started having them the previous year, a decade younger than most women. My mum, Patricia, had died of breast cancer at only 44, you see. After finding a lump in her 20s, she battled it for years. I was 13, and it felt like she'd gone at the time I needed her most. In time I became a school kitchen assistant, and had three children – Josh in 1999, Jack in 2003 and Avaani in 2010. I missed Mum's bright, bubbly personality, her fun-loving nature. Wished she could see the woman I'd…

1 Be calm and centred Feeling anxious? This AWARE technique changes your brain to a place of calm: Accept the anxiety. Watch and scale your anxiety from one to 10 (with 10 being maximum anxiety). Act normally, while imagining yourself calm. Repeat the above three steps. Expect the best. Use positive statements, such as, ‘This can't harm me’. 2 Beat the worry Expecting the best helps you to realise that a situation is not as bad as you thought, says integrative counsellor Katharina Wolf. When worry starts to creep in, ask yourself: ● What are you really worried about? ● How likely is it that your worry will come true? If it does… ● What is the worst that can happen? ● What is most likely to occur? ● What are…

DISCO TIME DOOR DECOR FUN & GAMES…

3 ways to … feel a bit richer in 2024 Want to see your savings pot grow in the coming year? Then try these tips… 1 Pay yourself first Once payday hits, it can be tempting to splash out and treat yourself once your bills have been paid. But when you're trying to put some cash away, treating savings as another ‘bill’ to pay at the start of the month may increase your success. So, work out how much you can afford to save each month and transfer it out of your current account and into your savings as soon as you've been paid. You can do this automatically by setting up a standing order with your bank or building society. 2 Separate your goals If you're saving for different goals…

Lacura Vitabase Face Primer, £4.99, Aldi This was a sell-out hit when it launched earlier this year, and it's finally back in stores. It's a hard-working primer with a combination of vitamins C, B and E, as well as shea butter. It preps skin for foundation, while smoothing out wrinkles, plumping skin and hydrating. Stock up before it goes! PS… Metallic Nail Polish, £2, Primark If you're looking for a grown-up way to wear some glitter this Christmas, styling a sparkling manicure is the answer. It's subtler, and easier than trying to attempt a sixshade shimmery eye. This silver shade will work with all your festive outfits, and it's also available in a metallic blue hue.…

Lisa Edgar, 22, from Beragh, County Tyrone Sweet or salty snacks? I much prefer savoury snacks, especially picnic treats like mini cocktail sausages and Scotch eggs. Delicious! What's your go-to film on a rainy day? If I'm snuggling up for a movie night, my comfort watch would be The Simpsons Movie. No matter how many times I see it, I laugh at all the same jokes and can quote all the best lines. What's your best trait? I try to keep learning and developing myself every day, looking for lessons in life. There's always time to keep growing as a person, and discovering new things, isn't there? Any weird habits? My strangest habit that springs to mind is when I'm in public, I have to have one of my earbuds in at…

French president Charles de Gaulle reportedly said that his only international rival was which fictional character? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer's in. We've put a section in to start you off! There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 1 Person present at an event 3 Young goat • Confess, concede 5 Final • Islamic ruler 7 Ebbing and flowing • Healthy 9 House or hut built of wood (3,5) Your answer:…

METALLIC TEE STYLE TIP For a glamorous look, this works perfectly worn over wide-leg trousers or even your favourite jeans. SEQUINS STYLE TIP A great desk-todinner option, pair with a silky skirt or smart black trousers and glittery shoes. SHIMMERY SHIRT STYLE TIP Wear slightly oversized and loose over a dark trouser – experiment with different textures, like velvet, lurex and sequins. CAMISOLES STYLE TIP A strappy cami is a great layering piece – slip on under a blazer or glittery cardi for added sparkle. FROM £12…

Christine Stanley, 61, Nottingham True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Catching the ball in my hands, I grimaced. I'd been suffering with numbness in my left shoulder for a while. It was 2016, I was 54, and after playing netball for Scotland in my youth, I was sharing my love of the game as a PE teacher. ‘You all right, Miss?’ one pupil asked. I nodded, but the pain was never far away and by spring 2018 it'd got worse. ‘Ouch,’ I cried, trying to lift a trampoline. I had no power in my arms either. I was referred to an orthopaedic specialist at Nottingham City Hospital. ‘You have two prolapsed discs in your back,’ he explained after tests. I was signed off work for six months and began physio. Only, shortly after…

TRUE-LIFE Natalie Greenall, 35, Warrington Settling my newborn, Theo, into his car seat, I felt a rush of love. Another one! They'd been coming thick and fast since he'd arrived two days ago. Every parent says the same, but my baby was perfect. ‘Drive carefully,’ I told my husband Sean, then 32, as we prepared to leave Warrington Hospital. Me and Sean had married in 2018, and were soon expecting. After a smooth pregnancy, Theo had arrived via caesarean section. And now, in November 2020, we were taking Theo home. ‘You two are the most precious things in the world to me,’ Sean replied, checking Theo's car seat was secure. We settled into family life and in the first week, a midwife visited twice to carry out regular newborn health…

The islands of Savai'i and Upolu are the two main land masses in which sovereign country? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Shore (5) 4 _ Mabuse, dancer (3) 6 Small burrowing mammal (4) 7 _ Hislop, journalist and broadcaster (3) DOWN 1 Punctuation mark (5) 2 Garlic mayonnaise (5) 3 _ chi, type of exercise (3) 5 Oolong, for example (3) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Hubby's no help at home Q I feel really underappreciated at home. I work long hours, do everything around the house and look after the kids constantly, too. My husband spends his weekends golfing, never lifts a finger and acts offended if I ever try to bring it up with him. I'm seriously considering leaving him but feel like I'm overreacting. What should I do? Lourie, 54 A No wonder you feel cross, my love. You need to remind your hubby that you're not a maid. to chat_magazine@ futurenet. Make sure he knows that you're not happy and things have to change. And if they don't, then another solution is to go on strike. See how he likes it when he's late for his golf game cos he can't find…

Waking from a restless sleep, my son, Daniel, then 2, gagged, and I quickly held out a cardboard bucket for him. ‘My poor boy,’ I soothed, rubbing his back. Once he was done being sick, he sunk back onto his bed, exhausted. ‘Shall we have a look out the window?’ I asked. Daniel gave a small nod, and I carried him over to peer at the streets below. His room at Great Ormond Street Hospital was above the entrance, which sparkled with gold Christmas lights. In the distance, you could see London in the midst of festive celebrations. ‘Doesn't it look pretty?’ I said, as Daniel gave a faint smile. It was only two days until Christmas 2021, yet watching the festivities from the window was the most joy Daniel…

TRESemmé 1 Min Wow! Hydrate Intensive Treatment, £5, Asda Hair feeling frazzled? This mask gets to work quickly, overhauling frizzy, dry strands, leaving them looking smoother and swishier. Max Factor 2000 Calorie Brow Sculpt Gel, £9.99, Boots This is a brow gel with a difference – it holds hairs in place while adding a tint and building up volume. It's also impressively long-lasting. It comes in four shades. E45 Lips & Dry Skin Nourishing Multi-Purpose Balm, £8.99, Superdrug This will become a handbag hero. It will nourish chapped lips, and will also soothe any dry areas of skin – it'll really be handy during frosty winter mornings. Essence Protect Your Energy Mini Eyeshadow Palette, £4.79, justmylook.com You'll be able to create endless eye looks with this palette. It has six…

Egypt Covington was well-known and liked in her home town. An account manager for a distribution company, the 27-year-old was also a popular local singer. She'd won a Country Idol music competition and people recognised her stunning smile wherever she went. It wasn't just her professional life that was soaring, either. Having made it official with her on-off boyfriend Curtis Meadows, her love life was in full bloom too. And in the early summer of 2017, the pair decided they'd live together. They agreed that Curtis would move into Egypt's flat, which she currently shared with her beloved dog Ruby. On 22 June, Egypt was busy cleaning her home. Her best friend Lindsey called, asking her to go for a night out. But Egypt said she was too busy getting…

Chat winners issue 37 (14 Sept 2023) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH S Wilkinson, Bradford £500 CASH I Dobson, Leeds L Tennant, Knaresborough £250 CASH T Hyder, St Columb M Brown, Leek £200 CASH V Heard, Camberley £100 CASH D Edwards, Ellesmere Port M Bennett, Sheffield D Poolman, Sheffield £75 CASH A O'Connell, Chatham £50 CASH R Way, Norfolk B Pullen, Liverpool S Simpson, St Albans R Flower, Bristol C Heffer, Cambridge A Edwards, Bridgend £40 CASH W Ketton, Nottingham £30 CASH D Crimes, Middlewich P Dring, Daventry £25 CASH C McEvoy, Nottingham E Harrison-Smith, Southampton £20 CASH D Coles, Ripon J Johnson, Horsham C Taylor, Congleton S Pollard, Dumfries P Wilson, Edinburgh L Morris, Torpoint J Collins, Bridgend S Cross, Spalding L Ashton, Leigh V Whatley, Swansea J Shann, Hull S Evans, Maesteg M Hancock, Neath B Turner, Romney Marsh C Beecham, Ipswich V Johnson, Sidcup C Oconnell, Teignmouth N Moore,…

To Nana, It was a horrible year, the one we came to live with you, wasn't it? I was only 9, and me and my sister Tasha, then 6, had just lost our mum. And you had lost your eldest daughter. We were all grieving for Mum, Barbara, who'd died suddenly aged 34. But you, Dolly, then 53, and Grandad, 62, gave us a loving home. Even though it must have been hard, raising a second family in your 50s. Somehow, you put the smiles back on our faces. We'd sit around the living room, listening to your stories. ‘Tell us the one about the hairpiece again, Nana,’ I'd giggle. You would be cracking up before you'd even begun. ‘Well, we were at a family party…’ you'd say. You would…

TRUE-LIFE Iwona Wyrebek, 43, Belfast Walking into the kitchen, my stepdaughter, Patrycja, then 11, dumped her school bag on the floor. ‘Can I have a snack, Mama?’ she asked. As I turned to the cupboard to get something for her to eat, I hid a huge smile on my face, not wanting to embarrass her. But my heart was singing. It was the first time she'd ever called me mum! I'd loved Patrycja from the moment her dad Robert, then 41, introduced us. Her long chestnut hair scraped into a ponytail, blue eyes peeking from beneath a baseball cap, and a shy smile. Robert and I had married and moved our families in together that February 2011. We'd left our native Poland and settled in Belfast. As well as Patrycja,…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What connects actors John Krasinski and Stanley Tucci? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 1966 film starring Michael Caine (5) 4 Outdoor garment (4) 6 Copied (8) 13 Adam _, Happy Gilmore actor (7) 14 Goes on a journey (7) 15 Cook with flame (5) 16 Dishonest person (4) 17 Chewy sweet (6) 18 Top priority (6) 20 Ballet skirt (4) 21 English county (5) 22 Sleepy (6) 25 Most fortunate (8) 28 Singer, _ Franklin (6) 30 Roman goddess of the moon (5) 32 Guess (8) 34 Possibility (6) 35 Mix up liquids (4) 38 Customs (6) 39 Court case (5) 40 _ 13, film starring Tom Hanks (6) 43 US state (4) 44 Young birds (6) 45 A pest (8) 48 Film musical starring Madonna (5) 49 Soundless (6) 51 Reasonable, practical (8) 54 Drawing tool (6) 55…

Help! I want a baby boy Q After giving birth to two girls, my New Year's resolution is to have a boy. Is it true that the chances are greater if the man makes love from behind? Klaryce, Tower Hamlets A This method for sex was devised by selecting your baby's the US doctor Landrum Shettles in the 1960s. There's no harm trying it, but it's unproven and most doctors think that the sex is pot luck! Shettles reasoned that as the acidity and lubrication inside your vagina changes throughout your monthly cycle, it sometimes favours male sperm and other times female. So, he said, sex at particular stages of your cycle can increase the chances of a boy or a girl. He also suggested that if the woman stops…

The firearm known as a musket takes its name from an archaic term for the male of which species of bird? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Plaster moulds = Cats + S = CASTS Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 Plaster moulds Strong cords Step Impact Inflicts injury Collect secretly Curse Display gratitude Village festivals Distinctive accent Money stores Your answer:…

Santa's hats Sure to bring to festive spirit to any party – no cooking required! MAKES 16 PREP 20 MINS ● 165g Philadelphia cream cheese ● ½tsp whole milk ● ½tsp olive oil ● 5 basil leaves, finely chopped ● 16 cherry tomatoes – Roma, Santini or other long shape ● 16 crackers 1 Whip the cream cheese, milk, olive oil and basil until smooth. Season well with pepper. 2 Cut the tips off the tomatoes, so that they can stand up straight. Set the ends aside to use for garnish or in salads later. 3 Spread ½tsp of the cream cheese mixture over each cracker and top with a tomato. Top tip Use a piping bag to make the bobbles neat. You can prep the elements ahead, then assemble when ready to…

22-28 December 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April Consider where you need to make healthy choices. As a new year approaches, decide to create more time for yourself and establish a new daily discipline. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May On 22 December write down three desires for the months ahead. Jupiter preparing to turn direct in Taurus at the end of the year will bring more clarity. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Are you noticing the signs the universe is sending you? A timely talk, finding feathers and seeing repeated number patterns remind you of the guidance surrounding you. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July The last Full Moon of the year is in…

Q How can I pick the right red lipstick shade to suit me? Joanna Cooper, Sheffield A Red lipstick adds a festive feel to any look and it's a great way of instantly dressing up any outfit. Don't be intimidated by reds, there's a shade to suit everyone, the key is picking the right undertone. Most people fall into two categories: warm or cool. A good trick is to look at your veins – if they're blue, you're cool-toned. If they're green, you're warm. If they're somewhere in between, you're neutral and can wear pretty much any shade. Cool tones will suit blue-toned reds, like E.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick in No Regrets, £9, elfcosmetics.co.uk. If you're warm-toned, pick a red with a slight orange tint, like Revolution Satin Kiss…

TEXT Simply text CHATA followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 63333 Texts cost 50p plus standard network charge (maximum 160 characters per text). When you enter by text, you may in future get SMS marketing messages from Future plc and Chat. If you want to receive these, please end your text with OPTIN. Texting tips ● Don't put any spaces in an answer that has several words: eg: CHATISTHEBEST not CHAT IS THE BEST. ● If the answer is a name, you need only give the surname: eg: CLOONEY not GEORGE CLOONEY. ● You can use capitals or small letters, but don't use any commas, etc. ● Leave out answers you don't wish to enter. INTERNET Join our…